Transfer apparatus



July 9, 1940. c. w. SCHREIBER TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. Carl Wdcbreiber A TTO July 9, 1940. c. w. SCHREIBER TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 6H MAN m 5. b Ni W .0 M N IhC VA W WM CY July 9, 1940. c. w. SCHREIBER 2,207,179

TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Nov'. 10, 1938 11 Shees-Sheet 3 i, l A

I s I. m

Carl BM July 9, 1940. -c. w. SCHREIBER TRANSFER APPARATUS ll Sheets-Sheet 4 &

ZZ W/ Filed Nov. 10, 1938 III/ll INVENTOR Carl W Jcbreibe M July 9, 1940. c. w. SCHREIBER TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Carl 7% Jchreiber July 9 1940. c. w. SCHREIBER TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 'r TRANSFER APPARATUS File i Nov. 10, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 C. W. SCHREIBER ww fiwMN July 9, 1940.

INVENTOR. Carl WTJ'chreiber BY Y " ATTO YS.

July 9, 1940. c. w. SCHREIBER TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVEN TOR.

Carl W Sclrreiber;

h 93 B H WW C. W. SCHREIBER TRANSFER APPARATUS July 9, 1940.

Filed Nov. 10, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR. Carl WScbretber;

ATTO EYS.-

BIZ/g July 9, 1940.

C. W. SCHREIBER TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheetll INVENTOR. Carl W Schreiber; M

ATTO S.

W Patented July 9, 1940 PATENT OFFICE TRANSFER APPARATUS Carl W. Schreiber, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Libbey Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application November 10, 1938, Serial No. 239,861

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to transfer apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for transferring ware from the discharging station of a rotary burn-off machine to a cross conveyor by means of which the ware is conducted to the annealing leer.

Under modern conditions of glassware manufacture, moile is removed from tumblers in a rotary burn-ofi machine consisting of a rotary carriage having mounted thereon a series of circumferentially spaced burners, above which are positioned and aligned therewith respective vertically movable chucks which receive therein the inverted unfinished tumblers having moile thereon. At a predetermined point in the circular path of movement of the chucks and burners, the tumblers are lowered by the chucks into the region of the respective burners and the moile is burned off. The moile-free tumblers are again elevated and conducted, during the remainder of their circular travel in the machine, to a discharge zone where they are released by the chucks and dropped by gravity in their inverted positions onto a series of pegs carried by a rotary peg table, constituting a take-out device, by means of which they are moved clear of the burn-off machine. In the operation of the apparatus just described, it is required that an operator be stationed at the discharge region of the burn-off machine to remove the inverted tumblers from the rotary peg table and place the same on a conveyor in an upright position preparatory to conveying the same to an annealing leer.

In order to dispense with the necessity of having an operator at the discharge region of the burn-ofi' machine to attend to the uprighting of the tumblers, various mechanisms have heretofore been devised for performing this function automatically. These mechanisms, however, have not proven altogether satisfactory for several reasons. Most of these mechanisms have retained the rotary peg principle of moving the tumblers clear of the burn-off machine and have functionally modified the pegs so that in addition to moving the ware clear of the machine they also perform the function of uprighting the inverted tumblers and discharging the same on the cross conveyor by gravity. Since such mechanisms are predicated upon a gravity discharge of the tumblers, they must necessarily be designed so that the pegs themselves become inverted. Any feasible mechanism for inverting the pegs must take into consideration and reckon with a consequent lowering of the tumblers from the elevation at which they are discharged from the burn-ofi machine to a much lower elevation amounting to at least twice the length of the pegs. To lower the operative elevation of the cross conveyor is entirely impractical and to 5 raise the elevation of the burn-oflz machine or its chucks and burners involves complicated mechanical and. engineering procedure and at best presents numerous operating difficulties that need not be mentioned at length herein.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above mentioned limitations that are attendant upon the use of transfer apparatus which is predicated upon gravity discharge of the tumblers onto the cross conveyor by the provision of an apparatus which cooperates with the burn-off machine and cross conveyor as they stand and without requiring modification or alteration of either and without resorting to a change in the elevation of either. 20

This being the principal object of the invention, it is contemplated providing a transfer apparatus which may be positioned at the discharge region of the burn-01f machine and which includes a rotary peg table for moving the inverted tumblers clear of the burn-off machine while at the same time partially uprighting the same, together with a cooperating rotary transfer unit which receives the partially uprighted tumblers in an inclined position at a level lower than the level of the cross conveyor and which completes the uprighting operation on the tumblers while simultaneously elevating the same to the level of the cross conveyor and by means of which the tumblers are placed on the latter. 35

Another object of the invention is to provide such a transfer apparatus wherein there is provided a peg table and a cooperating transfer unit, both of which are adjustable to accommodate difierent elevations of the chucks and burners of the burn-01f machine occasioned by the manufacture of different heights of tumblers.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a peg table and transfer unit, both of which are driven in unison in timed relation to the rotary movement of the burn-off machine together with a safety clutch associated with the transfer unit and Which becomes operative in the event of a tie-up or jam in connection with the latter to disconnect the positive driving connections thereto and thus protect these connections against damage.

The provision of an apparatus of the character set forth above which is extremely rugged and durable and which, therefore, is unlikely to get out of order, one which may be set into operation and left unattended indefinitely, and one which may be manufactured inexpensively, are further desirable features that have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

With these and many other objects in view which will become readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section of a transfer mechanism manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the same operatively associated with a burn-off machine and cross conveyor;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof partly in section;

Fig. 3 is generally a longitudinal sectional view taken through the apparatus with certain parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of a clutch member employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 'l-T of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line llll of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Illi of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 11 showing one of the pegs in its outwardly and downwardly inclined tumbler discharging position;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a bracket employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I4-l4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l|5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 16 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line l6--l6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 17 is an inside elevational view of a cam member employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. 18 is a top plan View of a tumbler receiving transfer unit employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l9-l9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2ll20 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 20 with the various parts thereof shown in a different position;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22--22 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2323 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 24 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2424 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 25 is a perspective view of a dog employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. 26 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2626 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the tumbler receiving transfer unit shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 28 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 28-28 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 29 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 29-29 of Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3030 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 31 is a view taken substantially along the line 3l3| of Fig. 3;

Fig. 32 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3232 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 33 is a plan view of a plate employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. 34 is a perspective view of a hollow holding dog employed in connection with the plate of Fig. 33; and

Fig. 35 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the various movements of a cam mechanism for controlling the swinging movements of one of a series of tumbler retaining cups associated with the transfer unit.

General description Referring now to Fig. 1, the relation of the burn-01f machine, transfer apparatus and leer cross-conveyor is shown. The transfer apparatus comprising the present invention is adapted to receive inverted tumblers issuing from the burn-01f machine and upright the same and place them on the leer conveyor.

Briefly, the burn-off machine B herein disclosed (which forms no part of the present invention and for which no claim to novelty is made) is designed to remove moile from the tumblers 20 and comprises a central column 40 having mounted thereon a rotatable carriage 4| upon which there are supported a series of vertically adjustable circumferentially spaced burners 42 above which are positioned and aligned therewith respective vertically movable chucks 43 which receive therein the unfinished tumblers 20 having moile thereon in an inverted position. At a predetermined point in the circular path of movement of the chucks 43 and burners 42, the tumblers 20 are lowered by the chucks into the region of the respective burners and the moile is burned off. The inverted tumblers are again elevated and are conducted, during the remainder of their travel in the burn-off machine, to the take-out zone of the burn-off machine where they are released by the chucks 43.

Still referring to Fig. 1, upon release of the inverted tumblers 20 from the burn-off machine B, the former fall by gravity at the take-out zone, which is the receiving zone R of the transfer apparatus, onto a series of supports 44 commonly referred to as pegs carried by a rotary peg table 45 forming a part of the transfer apparatus comprising the present invention, and by means of which the tumblers 20 are partially upended and are deposited in a series of cups 46 formed by the register of respective pairs of cradles 38 and tumbler supporting plates 39 carried by a rotary transfer unit 41. The peg table 45 and transfer unit 4! are continuously rotated in opposite directions in synchronism in such a manner that the cups 46 and pegs 44 come into register successively at a transfer zone T and the transfers from the pegs to the cups are periodically effected. The cups 46 at the transfer zone T are inclined and are disposed below the level of the burners 42 and chucks 43 and are also disposed below the level of the cross-conveyor 48 leading to the leer (not shown) and on which the tumblers 26 are to be deposited. The transfer unit 41 rotates about an inclined axis :r-zn and thus normal rotation of the unit 4! will cause the cups 46 and tumblers 20 therein to be elevated to a certain degree in moving from the transfer zone T to the final discharge zone D at which the tumblers are deposited on the cross-conveyor 48. Further elevation of the tumblers 26 and cups 46 accompanied by a tilting movement thereof to fully upright the former is effected during movement of the cups from the transfer zone T to the discharge zone D so that at this latter zone the cradle portions 38 of the cups 46 may be moved over the upper surface of the cross-conveyor to deposit their respective tumblers thereon. Immediately after deposition of the tumblers 26 on the conveyor 48, the cradles 38 are moved clear of the moving tumblers 26 thereon and the cups 46 are returned to the transfer zone T to receive additional tumblers. The operation is continuous.

The peg table Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the peg table 45 is rotatably mounted on a central support or column 56 which is supported at its lower end in a multiple-part gear housing 5| bolted or otherwise secured to the casing 49 of the burn-oil? machine B. The peg table 45 involves in its general organization a spider 52 bolted to a tubular casing 53 which is keyed as at 54 and threaded as at 55 to a sleeve 56, the latter being rotatably supported in bearings 51 about the central column 56. A clamping mechanism 58 permits the casing 53 to be secured to the sleeve 56 at any desired elevation thereon to vary the elevation of the peg table assembly in setting up the apparatus to accommodate different sizes of tumblers 26 issuing from the burn-off machine B.

The sleeve 56, casing 53 and spider 52 are rotatable as a unit about the central column 56 and are adapted to be continuously driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 from the ring gear 66 (Fig. 1) of the burn-off machine B through a spur gear 6|, bevel gears 62 and 63, shaft 64, and bevel gears 65 and 66, the latter gear being keyed as at 61 to the sleeve 56, and the entire train of driving mechanism being housed within and extending through the burn-off machine casing 49 and gear housing 5 Positioned on the central column 56 and disposed directly above the spider 52 is a stationary cam plate 76 (Figs. 2 and 3) having formed therein a cam race The cam plate 16 is held stationary by means of a key connection 12 with a stationary sleeve 13 surrounding the upper end of the sleeve 56, and connected to the stationary column 56 adjacent the top thereof. An apron 14 mounted on the sleeve 13 overlies the cam plate 16 and protects the cam race against the admission of dust or other foreign matter. The function of the cam plate 16 and cam race H is to cause tilting movement of the various pegs 44 as will appear presently.

Still referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and in addition to Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive, the spider 52 is provided with a plurality of radially extending arms 15, each serving to support a bracket 16 (Fig. 13) thereon. In the present instance the spider is disclosed as having six such radial arms but it is to be understood that a greater or lesser number may be employed. Each bracket 16 is of general U-shape cross-section providing a guideway 11 therein and having aligned depending bosses 18 formed at the outer end thereof. In order to support the bracket 16 a tongue 59 formed thereon extends into a recess 68 in the arm 15 and is held therein by means of a spring pressed locking pin 69. It will be seen, therefore,

that the bracket 16, together with all of the mechanism supported thereby, is readily removable from the spider arm 15. Tiltably supported in the bosses I8 is a horizontal rock-shaft 86 which is connected at one end by means of a yieldable knuckle joint assembly 8| to a horizontal peg supporting arm 82 carrying one of the tumbler supporting pegs 44 at its free end and at right angles thereto. A spring 19 maintains the arm 82 inclined at a slight angle to the axis of the rock shaft 86 in the horizontal plane thereof while permitting yielding of the arm should an obstruction be encountered in the operation of the transfer mechanism. Upon rocking movement of the rock shaft 86, the outer end of the arm 82 describes an arc of a circle in a vertical plane while the peg 44 carried at the outer end of the arm 82 is accordingly tilted downwardly and outwardly, all of this occurring as the peg table is rotating. A pin 83 (Figs. 9 and 11) associated with the knuckle joint assembly BI is adapted to alternately strike a pair of limit stop projections 84 (Figs. 9 and 13) on one of the bosses 18 of the bracket I6 to limit the upward and downward movements of the peg 44.

Rocking movement of the rock shaft 86 is effected by means of a rack 96 (Figs. '7, 8 and 9) which meshes with a pinion 9| mounted on the rock shaft 86. The rack 96 is connected through a yieldable lost motion device 92 to an actuating bar 93 which is slidable in the guideway 11 of the bracket 16 and the inner end of which carries a cam roller 94 riding in the cam race II. The cam race (Fig. 2) is designed with a substantially circular arcuate portion 95 on the side of the peg table facing the burn-off machine and with an outwardly ofiset portion 96 on the side of the peg table facing the transfer zone 'I' and thus it will be seen that the various cam rollers 94, riding in the circular portion 95 of the race II will serve to retract the actuating bar 93 and maintain the pegs 44 upright as they pass beneath the chucks 43 of the burn-01f machine. As the cam rollers 94 move into the outwardly ofiset portion 96 of the race II, the actuating bars 93 will be moved radially outwardly of the spider 52 and the tumbler supporting pegs 44 will be swung outwardly and downwardly beyond the horizontal to a nearly inverted but still inclined position for discharge of the tumblers 26 therefrom by gravity.

The throw of the cam race 1| is slightly in excess of that required to invert the peg 44. Thus when the pin 83 comes into contact with the projection 84, the excess movement of the actuating bar 93 is taken up by the lost motion device 92. Similarly, the cam race H is designed to move the bar 93 inwardly slightly in excess of the movement necessary to upright the peg 44 so that when the pin 83 engages the projection 84, the lost motion device 92 assimilates the excess motion. Thus accurate orientation of the peg 44 in both of its extreme positions is assured.

To prevent premature discharge of the tumblers 26 from the pegs 44 prior to registry of the latter with the cups 46 at the transfer zone T, a curved guide rail or retaining rail 86 is suspended by straps 81 from an adjustable collar 88 mounted on the stationary sleeve 13.

Referring again to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the transfer unit 41 is supported on and is rotatable with a central inclined support or shaft I00, the lower end of which is rotatably supported in a bearing IOI carried in a web I02 formed internally on a casing I03, the latter being bolted to a stationary support I04 (Fig. 1). Mounted on the shaft I and designed for rotation therewith is a casting I in the form of a spider (see also Figs. 14, and 16) to which there is secured, and over which there extends, a rotatable dome-shaped turret I06. The turret I06 and casting I05 are connected in driving relationship to the central shaft I00 through the medium of a slip or safety clutch mechanism designated generally at I 01 and which for the present will not be fully described but will be referred to later.

In order to drive the central shaft I00, casting I05 and turret I06 as a unit, the lower end of the shaft I00 has secured thereto a bevel gear I06 (Fig. 3) which meshes with a second similar gear I09 mounted on a shaft I I0 rotatably supported in a bearing unit I I I disposed in the casing I03. The shaft H0 is connected through a coupling II2 having a shear pin II9 associated therewith to a shaft II3, the latter deriving rotary motion from a gear II4 meshing with the gear 66 of the peg table driving mechanism and mounted on a shaft I I5 which is connected to the shaft I I3 through a manually operable clutch mechanism II6 disposed in a casing I I! secured to the gear housing 5|. The nature of the clutch mechanism IIG will be set forth presently.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 14, 15 and 16, the casting I05 is formed with a series of radial slots I therein in each of which there is slidably disposed a bar I2I having a cam roller I22 thereon adapted to travel in a cam race I23 formed internally on a vertically adjustable cam member I24 (see also Fig. 1'?) partially surrounding the lower end of the casting I05. A second and stationary cam member I25 bolted to the casing I03 as at I25 surrounds the casting I05 and is provided with an effective cam surface I26 at its lower edge on the side thereof opposite to the cam member I24 and beneath which the rollers I22 are adapted to pass and against which they are adapted to bear upwardly.

The upper region of the casting I05 is formed with a series of radial wings I (Figs. 2, l5 and 16) through which the slots I20 extend. Upper and lower hinge pins I3I and I32 respectively (see also Fig. 3) extend across each slot. Retaining blocks I21 secured by bolts I28 between the wings I30 serve to prevent dislodgement of the hinge pins I3I and I32. Rockably connected to each upper hinge pin I3I is a link I33, the free end of which is pivotally connected to a cup assembly support I34. Similarly, rockably connected to each lower hinge pin I32 is a link I35, the free end of which is pivotally connected to the cup assembly support I34 at a point spaced from and below the pivotal connection for the link I33. The links I33 and I35 extend through slots I36 formed radially in the dome-shaped turret I06. The portion of the turret I06 in which the slots I36 are formed is of circular curvature and a follower I06 is pivoted to each link I33 and rides on the turret I06.

The upper links I33 are free, that is, their movement is entirely dependent upon the swinging movement of the cup assembly supports I34, while the lower links I35 are positively actuated and swing about the hinge pins I32 to elevate or lower the cup assembly supports I34. Toward this end, the inner end of each link I35 has integrally formed thereon a fragmentary gear or gear sector I31, the teeth of which mesh with a toothed rack I38 slidably disposed on a pin I39 in one of the slots I20 and normally maintained seated upon one of the bars I2I disposed in the slot by means of a coil spring I40,

From the above description of parts it will be seen that as the cam rollers I22 travel through the cam race I23 and upon the cam surface I26 in their path of movement about the central shaft I00, the bars I2I and racks I38 associated therewith are reciprocated vertically in the slots I20 and the racks I38, meshing with the gear sectors I31, impart tilting movement to the lower links I35 and cause the cup assembly supports I34 to become elevated and lowered as required. Itis also to be noted that while the lower links I35 serve to positively swing the cup assembly supports I34 about the axes of the hinge pins I32 to lower or raise the same, the upper links I33 being shorter than the lower links, function as tilting means for the cup assembly supports I34. Thus in the lower positions of these supports, when the latter are in the vicinity of the transfer zone T as shown in Fig. 3, the cup assembly supports I34 are inclined outwardly whereas in the upper positions thereof in the vicinity of the discharge zone D, the cup assembly supports I34 are substantially erect.

In order that the cup assembly supports I34 shall assume their lower inc-lined positions at the transfer zone T, the cam race I23 in the cam member I24 (Fig. 17) is formed with an elevated portion or onto which the rollers I22 ride when the respective supports are at the transfer zone. Similarly, in order that the supports shall assume their upper positions in the vicinity of the discharge zone D, the level of the cam surface I 26 on the cam member I25 is disposed below the level of the lowermost position of the portion a of the cam race I23.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 14, means is provided for manually adjusting the elevation of the cam member I24 bodily in order that the lowermost position of the cup assembly supports I34 at the transfer zone T may be varied to accommodate differences in the elevation of the peg table 45 and different heights of the tumblers T being transferred. The outer side of the cam member I24 has formed thereon a rack I4I, the teeth of which mesh with a pinion I42 disposed within a recess I43 in the casing I03. The pinion I42 is connected exteriorly of the casing I03 to an actuating lever I44 (Figs. 1 and 14) by means of which the adjustment under discussion may be effected. A plate I45 secured to the casing I03 has formed therein a series of holes I46 into which a pin I4! may be selectively dropped to maintain the lever I44 in the desired adjusted position. It is to be noted that vertical adjustment of the cam member I24 will maintain substantially the same inclination of the cup assembly supports I34 at all times. The cam member I25, unlike the cam member I24, is fixed and therefore regardless of the adjusted position of the latter, the upper position of the cup assembly supports at the discharge zone D remains the same as well as does its inclination.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 18 to 30 inclusive, each cup assembly support I34 (Figs. 26 and 27) is in the form of a bifurcated bracket across the furcations of which there extend upper and lower hinge pins I50 and I5I respectively. The free upper link I33 for controlling the tilting movement of the cup supporting assembly I34 is pivotally connected to the hinge pin I50 while the positively actuated lower link I35 is pivotally connected to the lower hinge pin I5I. The support I34 is formed with a recess I52 (Figs. 20 and 21) therein in which there is received a head I53 formed on a block I54, the latter being bolted as at I55 to a two-piece casing I56 (Figs. 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27). A spring pressed locking detent holds the head I53 in position in the recess I52.

Projecting through the wall of the casing I56 and movable from an extended position to a retracted position in the casing is a rack bar I51 carrying a cam roller I58 at its outer end. A coil spring I59 normally urges the rack bar I51 to its extended position. A guide pin I60 (Fig. 23) extends into a slot I6I in the rack bar I51 and limits the inward and outward sliding movements thereof. The rack bar I51 is formed with teeth I51 (Figs. 22 and 23) thereon which mesh with a pinion I62 integrally formed on a stub shaft I63 vertically disposed in the casing I56 and supported at its upper and lower ends in bearings I64 and I65 respectively. The upper portion of the shaft I63 is provided with a series of notches I66 (Fig. 21) therein, the number of which is immaterial but of which three are disclosed. A plurality of pawls I61 (see also Fig. 25) of which two are illustrated, are pivoted as at I68 (Figs. 21, 23 and 24) in a like number of recesses I69 formed in a gear I16 which is rotatable in the casing I56 in bearings I1I surrounding the shaft I63. The pawls I61 are spring pressed as at I12 and are normally urged into positions wherein they will project into any two of the notches I66 in the shaft I63. Upon turning movement of the shaft I63, the pawls I61 ride into and out of the notches I66 and when not occupying a position in the notches I66, they are locked in fixed position by virtue of the protuberances I14 (Figs. 20, 21 and 25) thereon which enter recesses I15 (see also Fig. 19) formed in a plate I16 secured by studs I11 to the upper portion of the casing I56. In this position of the pawls I61, the gear I16 is prevented from turning.

The gear I16 meshes with a pinion or gear I86 (Figs. 19, 26 and 21) formed on the lower end of a shaft I8I that extends upwardly through the casing I56 and which is supported medially of its ends in a lower lubricating bearing I82 (Figs. 19 and 26) and in an upper bearing I83. A collar I84 secured to the shaft I8I secures the bearing I83 in position. A cradle supporting head I85 (Figs. 19, 26 and 27) is secured by means of a nut I86 to the upper end of the shaft I8I and is keyed to the same as at I81. A tumbler plate supporting head I90 having a driving fit with a sleeve I9I is disposed on the medial portion of the shaft I8I and a coil spring I92 has its opposite ends anchored in the head I85 and sleeve I9I respectively. The sleeve I9I is mounted for free turning movement of the shaft I8I.

Projecting laterally from the cup supporting head I85 and integrally formed therewith is a cradle supporting arm I93 (Figs. 19 and 27) provided with a boss I94 at its free end. A stub shaft I95 (Figs. 18, 28 and 29) secured in the boss I94 has adjustably secured thereto a cradle supporting plate I96 (see also Fig. 27) the angularity of which with respect to the arm I93 may be maintained in any desired adjusted position by means of a wing type set screw I91. Secured to the cradle supporting plate I96 and best illustrated in Fig. 29 is one of the tumbler receiving cradles 38 which is three-sided in form and includes an outer metal casing I98 and an inner lining I99 of asbestos or other heat resisting material. The upper regions of the casing I98 are flared outwardly as at I89 (Fig. 28) as a precautionary measure to guide the tumblers 20 released from the pegs 44 of the peg table 45 thereinto at the transfer zone T.

Projecting laterally fro-m the tumbler plate supporting head I96 and integrally formed therewith is a tumbler plate supporting arm 266 (Figs. 26 and 27) having a web 20I formed thereon. A stud 262 threaded into the cradle supporting head I85 normally bears against the web 26I and fixes the normal positions of the cradle supporting and tumbler plate sup-porting arms I93 and 266 respectively relative to each other. The spring I92, however, permits movement of the arm 266 relative to the arm I93 for a purpose that will be set forth later.

The outer end of the arm 266 is provided with a vertical bore 263 therein in which there is received the shank 264 of the tumbler supporting plate-39 while a spring pressed ball 265 removably retains the shank 264 in the bore 203 against dislodgment. The plate 39 is in the form of a circular disk to which there is secured by means of rivets 206 or the like an asbestos or other heat resisting pad 261 upon which the hot tumblers 26 issuing from the peg table 45 are adapted to be received at the transfer zone T and on which the tumblers are supported during their movement from this zone to the discharge zone D wherein they are deposited on the cross-conveyor 48.

Referring now to Figs. 26, 2'1 and 30, while the spring I92, stud 202 and web 20! normally maintain the cradle supporting head I85 and tumbler plate supporting head I96 in a definite fixed relation so that the tumbler supporting plate 39 normally occupies a position directly in register with its respective cradle 38, and in combination therewith forms in effect a tumbler receiving receptacle or cup, a pair of abutments 2I0 and 2H serve to positively maintain this relationship of register until such time as the arm 200 is forcibly swung about the axis of the shaft I6I relative to the arm I93 as will presently be described. The abutment H6 is in the form of a stud received in the arm 266 while the abutment 2 is in the form of a plunger having a tapered end and which is slidable in a boss 2I2 formed on the casing I56. A spring 2I3 normalry maintains the plunger 2II extended. The abutment 2I6 normally occupies a position behind the abutment or plunger 2I I and the arms I93 and 260 are thus, in effect, locked 1n position until such time as the cup assembly arrives at the discharge zone D, at which time the edge of the tumbler supporting plate 39 contacts a plate 268 formed on a bracket 209 secured to a stationary part of the cross-conveyor 48 and is thus retarded in its normal revolving movement about the axis of the turret I06 as shown at the extreme bottom right hand side of Fig. 2 and as will be more fully set forth during the description of the operation of the transfer apparatus presently to follow.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 35, the cam roller I58 on the rack bar I51 which controls the swinging movement of the cradle supporting arm I93 and tumbler plate supporting arm 206 is adapted upon rotation of the turret I06 to ride on a cam surface 2I5 provided on a curved cam wall 2I6 bolted as at 2I1 (see also Fig. 1) to the cam member I25. The cam surface 2I5 is so designed that during movement of the heads I85 and I96 from the transfer zone T toward the 75 discharge zone D through the zone indicated at A in Fig. 35, the rack bar I51 is forced gradually inwardly of the casing I56. Such movement of the rack bar I51 imparts turning movement to the pinion I62 and shaft I63 (Figs. 22 and 23) until such time as the protuberances I14 (Figs. 20 and 21) enter the notches I66 provided in the shaft I63 whereupon the gear I10 is picked up and continuous rotation of the shaft I63 causes turning movement of this gear. Such turning movement of the gear I10 acts through the pinion I and shaft I8I to cause turning movement of the heads I and I90, thus swinging the arms I93 and 200 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the turret I06 through an angle of approximately ninety degrees. The cam roller I58 then enters upon a dwell portion of the cam surface, indicated at B in Fig. 35, and further rotation of the gear I10 ceases until such time as the cradle 38 has deposited its tumbler 20 upon the cross-conveyor 48 and by movement concentric with the axis of the turret I06 has advanced the tumbler into proper spaced relationship with its predecessors. At this point, the cam roller I58 enters a portion of the cam surface designated in Fig. 35 at C whereupon the rack bar I51 is forced fully inwardly and the gear I10 is further rotated in the same direction as previously until such time as the protuberances I14 come into register with the recesses I15 in the plate I16 next adjacent to those which they had previously vacated. Such rotation of the gear I10 moves the arms I93 and 200 in the same direction as the direction of their initial swinging movement through an angle of approximately two hundred and seventy degrees and restores them to their initial tumbler receiving position. The cam roller I58 passes off of the cam surface 2I5 and the spring I59 restores the rack bar I51 to its projected position. In so moving, the shaft I63 is rotated in the opposite direction and the protuberances I14 are forced into the recesses I15 as they ride outwardly from the notches I66 in the shaft I63, thus locking the gear I10 as previously described. When the rack' bar I51 becomes finally extended under the influence of the spring I59 with one end of the slot I6I bearing against the guide pin I60, the shaft I63 comes to rest with the protuberances I14 occupying positions on the circumference of the shaft as shown in Fig. 20.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, and 31 to 34 inclusive, the slip or safety clutch mechanism I01 previously referred to includes a circular ringlike base plate 220 secured by means of bolts 22I to the turret I06 and casting I05 centrally thereof. A face plate 222 in the form of a ring is secured by means of screws 223 to the base plate 220 centrally thereof. A pair of recesses 224 are diametrically disposed in the upper surface of the face plate 222 at equally spaced points from the center thereof. Similarly, a pair of recesses 225 are also diametrically disposed in the face plate 222 but are spaced from each other a distance greater than the distance between the recesses 224.

The central shaft I00 extends upwardly through the turret I06 and base plate 220 and has keyed thereto a sleeve 226. The sleeve 226 is formed with a flange 221 thereon having slots 228 therein. A driving ring 229 is adjustably secured by means of bolts 230 extending through the slots 228 to the sleeve 226 and is formed with recesses 23I therein adapted to register with the recesses 224 and 225. Spring pressed plungers 232, one of which is shown in Fig. 34, are slidably disposed in the recesses 23I of the ring 229 and are adapted to enter the recesses 224 and 225 to cause rotation of the turret upon rotation of the shaft I00. The recesses 224 and 225 are shallow and the sides thereof are inclined outwardly. The lower ends of the plungers 232 are tapered as at 233 (Fig. 34) and thus it will be seen that while a positive drive between the shaft I00 and turret I06 is effected, any obstruction tending to stop rotation of the turret I06 will cause the plungers 232 to ride out of their corresponding recesses. The diametrical arrangement of the recesses 224 and 225 respectively insures registry of the transfer device 41 and peg table 45 after the condition resulting in obstruction of the turret I06 has been remedied.

The clutch mechanism II6 previously referred to is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. This mechanism comprises a spring pressed clutch member 250 mounted on and keyed to the shaft H3 in the clutch casing H1 and which is shiftable from a position of engagement with a second clutch member 252 formed on the shaft II5 to a position out of engagement therewith. A conventional shifting fork 253 is provided with an actuating arm 254 exteriorly of the casing II1 having a pin 255 carried in the end thereof and which is selectively receivable in a pair of holes 256 provided in respective lugs 251 formed on the casing H1. The clutch mechanism just described is purely conventional and no claim is made herein to any novelty associated therewith.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a gear 260 is mounted on a shaft 26I journalled in the casing I03 and meshes with the gear I09. The gear 260 meshes with a similar gear 262 mounted on the shaft 263 by means of which the cross-conveyor 48 is driven.

Operation of the transfer apparatus In the operation of the transfer apparatus, rotation of the burn-off machine B (Fig. 1) operates through the ring gear, gears 6|, 62 and 63, shaft 64, and gears 65 and 66, todrive the peg table 45 in synchronism with the burn-off machine as previously described in such a manner that the upright pegs 44 come into register with the chucks 43 successively to receive thereon the inverted tumblers released at the receiving zone R.

In moving from the receiving zone R to the transfer zone T, each peg 44 (Fig. 2) is swung outwardly and downwardly by virtue of the cam roller 94 which rides in the cam race H and causes the actuating bar 93 (Figs. 7 and 8) to be moved radially outwardly, thus actuating the rack and pinion BI and rocking the stub shaft 80. As the peg 44 assumes a position beyond the horizontal, the tumbler 20 bears against the curved guide rail 86 and is held against premature discharge from the peg until such time as the inclined and substantially inverted peg comes into register with one of the cups 46 at the transfer zone T.

The transfer unit 41, being driven in synchronism with the peg table 45 through the medium of the gears 66, H4, clutch mechanism II 6, coupling II2, shaft H0 and gears I09, I08, as previously described, register of the successive cups and pegs at the transfer zone T is insured.

The tumblers 20 released at the transfer zone T are received on the tumbler supporting plates 39 and are partially enclosed by the cradles 38 and are conveyed toward the discharge zone D;

In moving from the transfer zone T to the discharge zone D, each of the cam rollers I58, riding upon the cam surface 2I5 through the zone A (Fig. 35) causes the rack bar I5I to be moved partially inwardly, thus actuating the various instrumentalities contained within the casing I56 (Fig. 19) in the manner previously described to cause turning movement of the heads I and I and swing the arms I93 and 200 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the turret I06 through an angle of approximately ninety degrees. In moving from the transfer zone T to the discharge zone D, the cam roller I22 rides off of the cam surface a (Fig. 17) and passes onto the cam surface I26 (Fig. 3) of the stationary cam member I25 to maintain the tumbler supports 39 elevated and substantially horizontal at the level of the cross-conveyor 48.

The cam roller I58 then enters the dwell zone B and further swinging movement of the arms I93 and 200 ceases although their revolution about the axis of the turret I06 continues. Such revolution of the arms I93 and 2011 brings the tumbler support 39 into engagement with the plate 208 adjacent the side of the cross-conveyor 48 and the tumbler 20 is moved or pushed onto the upper surface of the bracket 209 and over the same and moves onto the conveyor and is spaced thereon while the cam roller I58 is still in the dwell zone B. When the tumbler support 39 strikes the edge of the cross-conveyor 48, the arm 208 yields under the influence of the spring I 92 as shown at the lower right hand side of Fig. 2.

'After the spacing of the tumblers 20 on the cross-conveyor 48, the cam roller I58 enters the zone C and further inward movement thereof swings the arm I93 through the balance of a complete revolution, i. e., through an angle of approximately two hundred and seventy degrees. The arm I93 picks up the arm 20!] as the lug 202 strikes the web 20I and the tumbler support 39 and cradle 38 are restored to their cup forming and tumbler receiving positions at the transfer zone T. Meanwhile, immediately prior to their arrival at the transfer zone T, the cam roller I22 passes off the cam member I25 and re turns to the cam race I23 of the cam member I26, thus lowering the cup assembly supports I34 to the tumbler receiving positions of the cup assemblies 46.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for transferring tumblers from a burn-off machine to a conveyor, comprisin mechanism for receiving tumblers in an inverted position as they are released from the burn-off machine and discharging them in a substantially upright position in a transfer zone, a series of tumbler receiving cups movable along an inclined plane in a closed path in part overlying said conveyor and extending through said zone. each cup including a bottom supporting plate and separate cradle, and means for effecting transfer of the tumblers from the cups to the conveyor in an upright position including automatic mechanism for retracting the bottom supporting plate and thereafter causing a corresponding movement of the cradle.

2. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of a burn-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone,

a plurality of tumbler receiving cups'mounted for revolution about an inclined axis and movable upon revolution thereof from a lowered position at the transfer zone to an elevated position at a discharge zone, each cup comprising a tumbler receiving cradle and a tumbler support normally in register therewith and movable independently relative thereto, and an abutment at the discharge zone in the path of movement of the support and adapted to be engaged by the latter to move the same out of register with the cradle to release the tumbler supported thereby.

3. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-outzone of a burn-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a rotatable turret, a plurality of cup assembly supports pivoted to the turret and movable upon rotation of the turret from lowered positions in the vicinity of the transfer zone to elevated positions at a discharge zone, a cradle supporting head and a plate supporting head mounted for independent rotation about a common axis on each cup assembly support, a cradle supporting arm having a cradle thereon and a plate supporting arm having a tumbler supporting plate thereon secured to the cradle supporting and plate supporting heads respectively, and means operable upon movement of the cup assembly supports from the transfer zone to the discharge zone for rotating the cradle supporting head on the cup support through a predetermined angle in one direction, said last mentioned means being I operable upon movement of the cup assembly supports from the discharge zone to the transfer zone for rotating the cradle supporting head in the same direction throughout a reflex angle supplementary to said first mentioned angle.

4. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of a burn-01f machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a rotatable turret, a plurality of cup assembly supports pivoted to the turret and movable upon rotation of the turret from lowered position in the vicinity of the transfer zone to elevated positions at a discharge zone, a cradle supporting head and a plate supporting head mounted for independent rotation about a common axis on each cup assembly support, a cradle supporting arm having a cradle thereon and a plate supporting arm having a tumbler supporting plate thereon secured to the cradle supporting and plate supporting heads respectively, and means operable upon movement of the cup assembly supports from the transfer zone to the discharge zone for rotating the cradle supporting head on the cup support through an angle of substantially ninety degrees in one direction, said last mentioned means being operable upon movement of the cup assembly supports from the discharge zone to the transfer zone for rotating the cradle supporting head in the same direction thran angle of substantially two hundred and seventy degrees.

5. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of a burn-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a rotatable turret, a plurality of cup assembly supports pivoted to the turret and movable upon rotation of theturret from lowered position in the vicinity-of the transfer zone to elevated positions at a discharge zone, a cradle supporting head and a plate supporting head mounted for independent rotation about a common axis on each cup assembly support, a cradle supporting arm having a cradle thereon and a plate sup porting arm having a tumbler supporting plate thereon secured to the cradle support-- ing and plate supporting heads respectively, and means operable upon movement of the cup assembly supports from the transfer zone to the discharge zone for rotating the cradle supporting head on the cup support through a predetermined angle and operable upon movement of the cup assembly supports through the discharge zone for preventing rotation of the cradlesupporting head and also operable upon movement of the cup assembly supports from the discharge zone to the transfer zone for rotating the cradle supporting head throughout a reflex angle supplementary to the first mentioned angle in the same direction.

6. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of a burn-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a rotatable turret, a plurality of cup assembly supports pivoted to the turret and movable upon rotation of the turret from lowered position in the vicinity of. the transfer zone to elevated positions at a discharge zone, a cradle supporting head and a plate supporting head mounted for independent rotation about a common axis on each cup assembly support, a cradle supporting arm having a cradle thereon and a plate supporting arm having a tumbler supporting plate thereon secured to the cradle supporting and plate supporting heads respectively, and cam means operable upon movement of the cup assembly supports from the transfer zone to the discharge zone for rotating the cradle supporting head on the cup support through a predetermined angle and operable upon movement of the cup assembly supports from the discharge zone to the transfer zone for rotating the cradle supporting head throughout a reflex angle supplementary to the first mentioned angle in the same direction.

7. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of a burn-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a rotatable turret, a plurality of cup assembly supports pivoted to the turret and movable upon rotation of the turret from lowered positions in the vicinity of the transfer zone to elevated positions in the vicinity of. a discharge zone, a cradle supporting head and a plate supporting head mounted for rotation about a common axis on each cup assembly support, a cradle supporting arm and a plate supporting arm secured to the cradle supporting head and plate supporting head respectively, a cradle on the cradle supporting arm, a tumbler supporting plate on the plate supporting arm, means normally and yieldingly maintaining the cradle and plate in register, and an abutment in the vicinity of the discharge zone positioned in the path of movement of the plates and adapted to be successively engaged by the latter upon rotation of the turret to move the plates out of register with their respective cradles.

8. In a transfer apparatus, a rotatable turret, links pivoted at one end to the turret at spaced points therearound for independent swinging movement in a vertical plane, cup assembly supports secured to: the other ends of the links, means for rotating the turret to move the supports through transfer and discharge zones successively, and cam means for swinging the links to move the supports to a lowered position at the transfer zone and to an elevated position at the discharge zone.

9. In a transfer apparatus, a rotatable turret, links pivoted at one end to the turret at spaced points therearound for independent swinging movement in a vertical plane, cup assembly supports secured to the free ends of the links, means for rotating the turret to move the supports through transfer and discharge zones successively, cam means for swinging the links to move the supports to lowered positions at the transfer zone and to elevated positions at the discharge zone, and means for adjustably regulating the lowermost positions of the supports collectively.

10. In a transfer apparatus, a rotatable turret, links pivoted at one end to the turret at spaced points therearound for independent swinging movement in a vertical plane, cup assembly supports secured to the free ends of the links, means for rotating the turret to move the supports through transfer and discharge zones successively, cam means for swinging the links to move the supports to lowered positions at the transfer zone and to elevated positions at the discharge zone, means connecting the supports and turret and cooperating with the links to control the inclination of. the supports at the discharge zone, and means for adjustably regulating the lowermost positions of the supports collectively.

11. In a transfer apparatus, a rotatable turret, a link pivoted to the turret at one end thereof, a cup assembly support pivoted to the turret at one end thereof, a cup assembly on each support, means for rotating the turret to move the assembly through transfer and discharge zones successively, cam means for swinging the link to move the support to a lowered position at the transfer zone and to an elevated position at the discharge zone, and a second link pivoted at one end to the turret at a point above the pivotal point for the first link, the free end of the second link being pivoted to the support at a point above the pivotal point for the free end of the first link, said links cooperating with each other to control the inclination of the support.

12. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of a burn-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a plurality of tumbler receiving cups mounted for revolution about an axis and movable upon revolution thereof from a lowered inclined position at the transfer zone to an elevated upright position at a discharge zone, each cup comprising a tumbler receiving cradle and a tumbler support normally in register therewith and movable independently relative thereto, and an abutment at the discharge zone in the path of movement of the support and adapted to be engaged by the latter to move the same out of register with the cradle to release the tumbler supported thereby.

13. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of a burn-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a rotatable turret, a plurality of cup-assembly supports pivoted to the turret and movable upon rotation of the turret from lowered positions in the vicinity of the transfer zone to elevated positions at a discharge zone, a cup assembly on each support for receiving the tumblers at the transfer zone, means for adjustably regulating the lowermost positions of the cup assembly supports collectively, and means for rotating the turret.

14. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of a burn-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a plurality of tumbler receiving cups mounted for revolution about an inclined axis and movable upon revolution thereof from a lowered inclined position at the transfer zone to an elevated upright position at a discharge zone and vice versa, each cup comprising a tumbler receiving cradle and a tumbler support normally in register therewith and movable independently relative thereto, and means for retracting the tumbler supports to move the same out of register with the cups in the vicinity of the discharge zone.

15. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of -a bum-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a plurality of tumbler receiving cups mounted for revolution about an inclined axis and movable upon revolution thereof from a lowered inclined position at the transfer zone to an elevated upright position at a discharge zone and vice versa, each cup comprising a tumbler receiving cradle and a tumbler support normally in register therewith and movable independently relative thereto, means for retracting the tumbler supports to move the same out of register with the cups in the vicinity of the discharge zone, and spring means for restoring such registry of the cups and supports during movement of the cups from the discharge zone to the receiving zone.

16. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, means for receiving inverted tumblers at the take-out zone of a burn-off machine and for partially uprighting the same and for discharging the partially uprighted tumblers by gravity at a transfer zone, a rotatable turret, a plurality of cup assembly supports mounted on the turret and movable upon rotation of the latter from lowered positions in the vicinity of the transfer zone to elevated positions at a discharge zone, a cup assembly on each support for receiving the tumblers at the transfer zone, a drive shaft extending centrally through the turret, a slip clutch mechanism operatively connecting the shaft and turret in driving relationship, and means for rotating the drive shaft.

CARL W. SCHREIBER. 

